Business advice and information telephone numbers

Business Advice - call 01527-881327

Bromsgrove District Council aims to be business-friendly. We encourage new firms to come into the District and try to help existing firms to grow. Our Economic Development section will endeavor to help you and will actively lobby your interests with government agencies or with planning applications.

If you are outside the District, we can give you a tour of the main business sites within an hour. We compile a Property Guide of all commercial properties currently on the market.

We also try to promote local firms as much as possible; we pass leads to companies when we hear of relevant work and we participate in networking.

Business Grants - call 01527-881327

Established Businesses

The Bromsgrove District is not one of the major areas for Government or EC economic assistance and, being a small authority, we cannot offer rate reductions or rate-free periods. However, we can assist you in making approaches to the Department of Trade & Industry, Advantage West Midlands or the Chamber of Commerce.

Small Business Start-ups

The Business Start-up Programme offers free business training and an initial grant of £500 (subject to conditions) to anyone starting a business for the first time in the Bromsgrove District. We promote new businesses with press releases and with an annual Business Start-up 'Showcase' exhibition to which all sponsored businesses are invited together with the press, local radio, the Councillors and any new applicants.  Over the last 8 years Bromsgrove District Council has assisted approximately 250 new businesses which have shown a very high survival rate.

Business Booster grants

These are grants up to £1,000 to help a relatively new business make a significant step forward. The grant must be match-funded by the applicant i.e. if you want to claim the maximum of £1,000 then you must also invest £1,000. These grants are normally used for purchasing computers, laptops, business-related software or presentation equipment. We have recently helped 2 new retail businesses with shopfitting equipment. Again, certain conditions apply, but these are not onerous.

Rural Diversification Grant

Similar to the Business Booster Grant, this applies mainly to farming or growing businesses whose traditional incomes have been eroded in the past few years and who need to diversify. For example, we assisted one (unprofitable) farm to build a cattery. Another farmer converted a vegetable field (vegetable prices have declined) into grazing for horses, which required new improved fencing and a shelter. Same matchfunding conditions as Business Booster.

Business Awards - 'Most Promising Newcomer' - call 01527-881327

The Council makes an annual award to the Small Business Start-up (see above) which, in the judges opinion is the "Most Promising Newcomer". This is presented at the annual showcase event.

Business planning - call 01527-881327

Economic development can help you find a suitable consultant or supplier for financial planning, human resources, marketing, property, civil engineering and construction, etc. We have close links and regular meetings with the Chamber of Commerce and Advantage West Midlands.

Community Economic Development - call 01527 - 881327

Economic Development plays a prominent role in the Bromsgrove Community Partnership. The Economic Development Officer chairs the Develop and Prosper Theme Group.

Co-operative Development - call 01527-881327

Economic development welcomes the opportunity to consider grant applications from co-operative or social enterprises. Social / co-operative applicants must undertake the same business training as private applicants and be subject to the same terms and conditions. The enterprise must aim to be self-financing within a reasonable time and cannot receive ongoing funding from the Council.

Credit Unions - call 01527-877462

Bromsgrove & District Credit Union. For more details contact John McLaughlin (Chairman) on 01527-877462 or Cllr David McGrath (Beacon Ward, Rubery) on 0121-453-4814

Economic Intelligence - call 01527-881327

Economic Development can provide local information on the Bromsgrove District. For more detailed information and statistics call Worcestershire County Council, Reseach and Intelligence Unit (Andrew Rudd) on 01905-766713 or email aruddl@worcestershire.gov.uk

Industrial and Commercial Property Guide - call 01527-881607

If you're looking for premises in the Bromsgrove district we can probably save you a lot of time. The Bromsgrove Industrial and Commercial Property Guide is updated every 3 months. In it we aim to capture every industrial and commercial property on the market. We have links with all the estate agents active in the district (besides architects, civil engineers and builders) and have a good idea of what's on offer or what could be built for you. We can often fast-track your requirements to the right people and get them to call you within minutes of your enquiry.

Farmers' Markets - call 01527-878264

Bromsgrove was one of the first towns to start a regular Farmers' market back in 1999. It's now one of the best in the Midlands and is held on the second Saturday of each month in the High Street. It was voted one of the top three in the Midlands by readers of the Observer Food Supplement and runner up in the Birmingham Post 'Market Masters' competition .  It was also featured in the Sunday Times.

Regeneration Projects - call 01527-881327

Bromsgrove District Council is currently involved in two major local regeneration projects:

• Bromsgrove Technology Park
  The largest inward investment project in Bromsgrove for over 50 years. A 22 acre site for hi-tech businesses which will create around 700 new jobs. Under construction on the former Garringtons / UEF site.
• Town Centre Project
  Re-development and improvement of  main areas of the Town Centre.